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The Weekly Readlines October 8

The Weekly Readlines (rhymes with headlines!) is a feature at LGBTSr.com, offering news you can use every Friday morning. Subscribe here for virtual delivery.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIESThe good news first: Facebook was down for six hours on Monday. A billion people suddenly discovered they could do something else with their time. And my adopted state, New Jersey, is home to two of the nation’s most LGBTQ-friendly colleges! We love the Garden State.
A massive document dump called the Pandora Papers revealed how the filthy rich hide their assets and no one cared. They’re too busy blaming Joe Biden for the rising cost of chickens.
A debt ceiling deal was reached in the Senate, two infrastructure bills still hang by a thread, and Lindsey Graham yapped some more about impeaching Biden because … what else do they have to do?
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Review: Ken Burns’s ‘Muhammad Ali,’ by Sue Katz
This review is reprinted with permission from Sue Katz: Consenting Adult.
By Sue Katz
The Greatest: Burns was not up to the challengeKen Burns, his daughter Sarah Burns, and her husband David McMahon, were not the right people to make the lengthy documentary on Muhammed Ali for PBS. I felt the long series had a subtly hostile tone to Ali and a more explicit hostility to boxing. Despite having the resources to access piles of stunning archival footage and despite having a massive eight hours of airtime, the entire work was devoid of emotion. Muhammed Ali was a passionate, emotional figure, but this was not reflected in the deadpan commentary, not the least by the guy they presented as the biographer of Ali, who seemed barely conscious.
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Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in LGBTQ History (September 24 – 30)
Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in LGBTQ History makes the past ever-present with daily rundowns of historic events and people.
Ronni Sanlo
THIS DAY in LGBTQ HISTORY
SEPTEMBER 30
1924
Truman Capote (born Truman Streckfus Persons, September 30, 1924 – August 25, 1984) is born. He was an American novelist, screen-writer, playwright, and actor, many of whose short stories, novels, plays, and nonfiction are recognized as literary classics, including the novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1958) and the true crime novel In Cold Blood (1966) which he labeled as a nonfiction novel. At least 20 films and television dramas have been produced of Capote novels, stories, and plays. Capote was openly homosexual. One of his first serious lovers was Smith College literature professor Newton Arvin. Although Capote seemed never really to embrace the gay rights movement, his own openness about homosexuality and his encouragement for openness in others makes him an important player in the realm of gay rights nonetheless. Capote died in Bel Air, Los Angeles, on August 25, 1984, age 59. According to the coroner’s report, the cause of death was liver disease complicated by phlebitis and multiple drug intoxication. He died at the home of his old friend Joanne Carson, ex-wife of late-night TV host Johnny Carson on whose program Capote had been a frequent guest. Gore Vidal responded to news of Capote’s death by calling it “a wise career move.”1935
Johnny Mathis (born September 30, 1935) is born. A beloved velvet-voiced jazz and pop singer, Johnny came out to his public in an interview for Us magazine in June 1982.1959, Paraguay
The first public action for gay rights takes place after the Paraguayan government arrests hundreds of gay men without warrant and tortures them for being gay.1983
New York State sues a West 12th Street co-op for trying to evict Dr. Joseph Sonnabend for treating AIDS patients. He later receives $10,000 and a new lease. -
The Weekly Readlines September 24

The Weekly Readlines is a feature at LGBTSr.com, offering news you can use every Friday morning. Subscribe here for virtual delivery.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIESGood news first: September 20 marked the ten year anniversary of the repeal of DADT (Don’t Ask Don’t Tell).
The nation approaches default with a gleeful Mitch McConnell looking on, while Democrats threaten to tank their own agenda. And it’s only September!
The coronavirus pandemic is now the most deadly in American history, surpassing the death toll of the 1918 flu. Some hospitals have resorted to rationing care due to unvaccinated Covid patients filling up the ICU beds.
France gets prissy over Biden’s submarine deal with Australia, recalls ambassador, then mends hurt feelings with presidential phone chat and escargot.
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Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in LGBTQ History (September 17 – 23)
Ronni Sanlo’s This Day in LGBTQ History makes the past ever-present with daily rundowns of historic events and people.
Ronni SanloTHIS DAY in LGBTQ HISTORYSEPTEMBER 23Bisexuality Day and Bisexual Awareness Week
1965, India
Indian prince Manavendra Singh Gohil (born September 23, 1965), believed to be the only openly gay royal in the world, was born. His family disowned him when he first came out in the media in 2006. He has since been welcomed back. The Prince is the founder of an HIV/AIDS prevention charity. He runs another charity, The Lakshya Trust, which works with the LGBT community.
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Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources: Holistic Pain Management for Seniors
This article is excerpted with permission from Kapok Aging and Caregiver Resources. You can listen to my conversation with Angelica here. – Mark/Editor
By Angelica Herrera Venson,DrPH, MPH

Angelica Herrera Venson Pain is a serious problem for many seniors and caregivers. When Western medicine fails us, or is out of reach financially, the pain can drive many of us to explore alternative forms of therapy. Indeed, holistic pain management for seniors can be a powerful tool, where you are combining multiple approaches for reducing and managing your pain.
However, before you do that, make sure you understand the strength of the science behind these options and the limitations of what they can and cannot treat. You should also be aware of the risks, along with when such techniques might not be suitable.
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An App for That: MyFitnessPal
An App for That is a regular feature at LGBTSr highlighting useful apps and technology tips for our readers. Have an app to recommend? Email me at: Editor @ LGBTSr.com
On my recent podcast interview with Angelica Herrera Venson of Kapok Caregiving Resources, she mentioned MyFitnessPal when we talked about apps and technology for older adults. I know this app well, having had it on my phone for the past couple years. It offers a lot of data, tracking and helpful information, and can be a handy tool in our health routine, especially if we want to keep track of what we eat and lose a few pounds in the process. I use the free version, of course, and only recommend apps that offer one.
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The Weekly Readlines September 3

The Weekly Readlines is a feature at LGBTSr.com, offering news and views you can use every Friday morning. Subscribe here for virtual delivery.
BIG CUP: THE WEEK’S TOP STORIESAnd so it ends—the war in Afghanistan is over. Biden takes the hit, and he also takes responsibility, something we haven’t seen for, oh, four years or so.
Anti-vaxxers continue to ramp up their violent rhetoric, in futile rage against the nation’s attempt to stop a virus that doesn’t care about anyone’s civil rights. It just kills, and it has been on a spree. Welcome to Florida!
Texas made abortion all but illegal, with an assist from Supreme Court conservatives who have stopped pretending to be anything but enforcers for an extremist Republican agenda. Freedom flickers out one majority opinion at a time.
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EVENTS: Philly Pride Returns September 4

When: September 4, 2021
Where: Starts at the Grand Plaza at Penn’s Landing
Time: 12:00 pm kickoffAbout Philly Pride
Philadelphia is home to some of the oldest events associated with LGBTQ pride in the United States. One of those events is Pride Day, which takes place on the second weekend of June. It encourages guests to share their own stories and experiences about coming out and to help others in need. The Philly Pride Festival usually takes place from Friday to Sunday every year, and always promises a colorful scene!
The Lesbian and Gay Task Force established a small office in Love Park in the 1980s and decided to host a Philadelphia Pride event that was open to the public. Several hundred people came out for the first parade and festival in 1988. In 2018, the organization celebrated the 30th anniversary of the event. Philly Gay Pride Weekend is now one of the largest events of its type in Pennsylvania.
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Alzheimer’s Association Offers LGBTQ Community Resources for Dementia
I’ll be speaking with Stephen Dolainski soon on an upcoming One Thing or Another Podcast about his experience as a caregiver for a friend with dementia, and about Alzheimer’s Los Angeles’ support group for LGBTQ caregivers. – Mark/Editor
From the Alzheimer’s Association
The LGBTQ community may face particular challenges related to Alzheimer’s and dementia, including finding inclusive and welcoming health care providers, less ability to call upon adult children for assistance, concerns about stigma and higher rates of poverty and social isolation.
Dementia and the LGBTQ community
These documents from the Alzheimer’s Association describe the issues that members of the LGBTQ community and their loved ones experience and offer guidance for navigating these challenges.
- Issues Brief: LGBT and Dementia, a collaboration with SAGE, outlines specific issues of concern related to LGBTQ people with dementia, including stigma, family composition, poverty and social isolation.
- LGBTQ Older Adults and Dementia is a guide for LGBTQ community members living with Alzheimer’s or other dementia.
- This infographic on the LGBTQ community and dementia includes important information about the LGBTQ community and dementia, including data about the challenges members of the community face accessing care.
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EVENTS: Provincetown Events Calendar (Since We’re Here Anyway!)
We’re enjoying our annual trip to Provincetown, with a time share this week every year. This is one of my favorite vacation spots, even with the interminable drive from our home in New Jersey. There’s a lot going on in and around PTown throughout the year, so here’s a link to their events calendar. Check it out, sign up for something, and enjoy!
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Survey Says: It’s a Tie! LGBTSr Subscriber Email Results

The survey results are in: 40 percent of respondents would like to see the LGBTSr subscriber email delivered every two weeks. And the ones who’d like to see it every Friday? 40 percent!
What’s the editor and publisher of a popular website for the over-50 LGBTQ audience to do? I’ll be splitting the baby: sending out the newsletter every two weeks until I have a little more to offer you, then moving to the every Friday schedule I had in the beginning 10 years ago. Hopefully by the time I retire next April I’ll have lots to share with subscribers, and maybe another contributor or three. Until then, enjoy LGBTSr delivered to your virtual doorstep every two weeks. Subscribe here! And thanks for taking the survey.
Mark McNease, Editor



